ALLERGEN WARNING: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR INFINITY WAR

As usual, it's been far too long for me since I've posted anything, but, as usual, I hope you're still with me.

I started this fic as soon as I finished watching Infinity War without scrolling through fanfictions already out there – hopefully this one isn't too close to what anyone else has already written, though I get the feeling that unfortunately might be. I mean, just as I recently finished writing the first few chapter drafts, I find this

/ / w w w . p i nterest . c o m . a u /pin/750482725379702187/

which pretty much sums up my entire story, dammit (DON'T go into the link until after finishing this story if you don't want fic spoilers, please!) Also, apologies if some of the quotes aren't word-perfect – I watched Infinity War once and haven't been able to since.

"I assure you, Brother, the sun will shine on us again." – frick, Loki's line has haunted me since seeing Infinity War, albeit that was only a week ago. Though it's not showing any signs of waning any time soon, either. I find what he said strangely beautiful, as well as heartbreaking given the context. Same for the insistent way he emphasises the word 'will' – anyone else hear that?

('Frick' wasn't the F word I've been thinking since Infinity War, by the way)

I guess this fic almost works as a sequel to The Things I Miss, The Thing I Don't (my multi-chapter based immediately post-Ragnarok)? But can be standalone after seeing Infinity War, as can TTIMTTID after seeing Ragnarok. But this story is ignoring Avengers 4, being just a 'what if?' fic – if Loki had truly died, if Thor had lived on, and if there wasn't any messing around with Time to save anyone (I've nowhere near the creativity or analytical ability to predict the canon events we're in store for).

Also! I've got a softer one-shot and a lighter-humoured multi-chapter on the go too that I'm pretty excited to write, but this one takes precedence.

Again, to people who have been reading my other fics over the past months since I'd last posted, THANK YOU from the depths of that weakly pulsing thing that is my heart after seeing Infinity War.

And as always, enjoy.

He has been near Death before. Like a child dancing near the Rainbow Bridge's edge, almost taunting it to try and take him. But he had always had some kind of safety net in place.

Your birthright was to die

Now here It is. Finally.

Scared, Loki? His mind taunts him back.

He is afraid to greet It for real now.

(He doesn't want to die, he wishes he wouldn't, not just yet, he never really did want – )

For Thor?

…

…Thor...

…

He charges towards Death with everything he has.

You will never be a god

It sounded so much smoother in his head.

He feels that his sputtering may have detracted from the force of the delivery slightly. But Thanos probably understands the message, and Loki has more pressing things to worry about.

The crushing pain in his throat surges higher and larger, and he knows what it will end with.

Loki's own end: the last thing he will see is Thanos' face. The titan's voice will speak the final words he would hear.

The least Fate could do is give he and Thor a last goodbye, though they have tried far too many in the past.

Loki had hoped his real death would not be with his back turned to Thor.

The stars and the conflagrations gnawing on the remains of their escape ship start to look like candle lights someone is snuffing out one by one…

He is hazily aware of the smile on Thanos' face, and the way Thanos' grip tightens almost leisurely, because the titan has all the time in Yggdrasil to make Loki long for something as sweet as pain.

Loki's vision continues to blur and dim.

(Where is the sun now?)

He is hazily aware of the weak gasping sounds escaping his lips, and the way his struggling against the stranglehold has dwindled away weakly…

(Where is Thor?)

His throat…

The pain lancing up and down his spine and clouding his head finally explodes into something unbearable –

(He bears it still)

– And Loki keeps watching the titan smile. But he imagines Thor.

Is…

this…

…it?

And then the darkness is,

finally,

complete.